Category Archives: academics

In the blink on an eye, any country in the world can be taken out with nuclear weapons. Technology has become life threatening; however, few seem to worry about its effects. People are blind to the direction the world is headed in. Omar N. Bradley once said, “If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.” In the same way, Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 alludes to the current modern-day world. American society believes it has met the peak of intelligence; however, Bradbury shows his readers how negligent American society has become through the chaos within the culture, which ensues when wisdom and youth are neglected.

Fahrenheit 451 was published in the early 50’s, despite the era it was written in, Bradbury makes many valid points reflecting modern culture. Bradbury predicts the obsession with technology and the problems it may cause; including, but not limited to, an enormous lack of human interaction. The characters do not care for others and have become very egocentric. It is as if they never grew up. During times of stress, anxiety, etc. they resort to technology to comfort them, bringing to mind a parent comforting a child with a pacifier.

This book is a great read, especially for those who enjoying thinking. You can find Fahrenheit 451 on the shelves of the Masland Library here at Cairn University in our fiction section. Challenge yourself to prove this story wrong and get to know your fellow school mates. How will you stop America from reaching a dystopian nightmare?

This semester I have had the privilege of interning at a drug and alcohol rehab center for women. It has been an experience that I would not trade for anything and also one I wish everyone could experience. Addiction Recovery is hard, it’s not pretty, and it makes people vulnerable. However, it also makes people search, makes them available and makes them open to new ways of life. You see, we all search for things to fill us, to make us happy, or cheer us up. People in recovery are the same, they looked for things just like I do, and you do, and the difference is that they landed on a substance and not a Netflix show. And the ONLY THING that separates me from them, you from them, is the grace of God alone. That could be me, should be me, and could be you.

But the beautiful thing is that I have never met people so open, so willing, and so desperate in need for something deeper. Never have I been able to see the need for Jesus more than I have this semester and never have I been around people so hungry for it.

Now I know what you’re thinking. How does this relate to the library? Well let me tell you.

I have read, borrowed and skimmed dozens of books in the Library about addiction. And let me tell you, there’s plenty.

But not just that.

The Library is simply where it starts. You find a book, you check it out, you read it, your take notes (maybe), and you return it. But it’s what you do after that, it’s how you act on the information you just read, it’s how you follow Jesus’ commands using that newfound information, it’s how you treat people.

So do yourself a favor, visit the Library (there’s plenty of topics to find), check out a book, read it, and then make use of it!

Vulnerability can be defined as the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. And nothing stings more than the vulnerability of uttering those three little words: “I don’t know.” It’s a phrase that clings to the vocal cords like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth, and we have to use it more times than not if we’re honest with ourselves. If all the knowledge to be obtained were a circle, the knowledge any one college student possesses would be nothing more than a pen dot within it.

In fact, as students, ours is a position characterized by lacking knowledge and depending on those who have gone before us so that we may grow our minds and perceptions. These predecessors lead us to ask questions and dive into the abyss of research possibilities, which is exciting . . . until you realize you have three papers to write, two exams to study for, and that huge social event that simply cannot be missed.

Thankfully, there are people and offices established all over campus to support students as we endeavor to unfold the mystery that is navigating adulthood and intellect. In the ARC there are people who are trained to help you manage your schedule and optimize study time. Likewise, the library has experienced staff with hearts ready to serve any student needing assistance.

Laura Saloiye, a Cairn University alumna, has worked at Cairn since 2001, first as a student and, beginning in 2008, as a librarian. In addition to her pleasant personality, Laura has a copious knowledge of the research process and the Masland Library resources that can help any student better utilize all the library has to offer. She is one of the most beneficial tools the Masland Library has to offer the students at Cairn University. The entire Cairn community can learn how to efficiently research and eloquently sift through depths of knowledge which extend well beyond the limits of the many pages on our shelves. You need only ask.

~Theresa Yandell

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

But we are here to help. The library has extended its hours for finals week and we also have coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to encourage you to come in and stay focused once you’re here. We have survived 15 grueling weeks of the semester and we only have one week left. That’s nothing. So come into the library and get to studying.

Also, don’t forget to take a break this week too. Go out with friends, exercise, have devotional time, or of course, TAKE A NAP. This week is all about using your time wisely and staying focused when needed.

Another way to brighten your day through this dreary week of finals is to brighten someone else’s. Take your friends a coffee when you know they’re studying. Send them a word of encouragement. Just be friendly. Don’t let this week drag you down, lift up someone else and you’ll be surprised how much it helps you too.

Hang in there everyone, we’re almost done. We’re all in this together.

Hey, are you majoring in Music? Looking to broaden your musical horizons or
simply add a new track to your playlist? Then Cairn University’s Masland Library is the
place for you! Throughout the library’s first and second floors, you will discover an array
of wonderful books on many of the world’s greatest composers. Explore the stories
behind the lives of Chopin, Debussy, Mozart and Beethoven and how their genius came
to be.

Masland Library offers material on a vast number of genres, ranging from Choral
Music to Hip-Hop. Jazz, Folk, Chamber Music, Gospel and Rock n Roll can also be found. There’s even a selection of more obscure genres like Honky-Tonk and Shaker. If your focus is biblical studies, there are books on the history of Christian Music, Spirituals and Amish Hymns!

For anyone looking to play or research a musical instrument, there’s a multitude
of materials to choose from. Expand your knowledge of piano, woodwinds, strings and
percussion so you can “rock out” with friends or serenade someone special. There’s
even music from the Romantic and Baroque Periods, perfect for dancing the night
away. Masland Library is the ideal place for Music majors and non-music majors alike,
whether you desire to brush up on your theory skills or broaden your musical horizons.

And do not forget our online resources, we have some great databases like Alexander Street Press and Naxos Music Library! These sources will allow you to find sheet music and to listen online to a huge library of music.

So, do yourself a favor. Take a trip to our amazing library, and let the music begin !

So you know how the Masland Library has Databases? Well, we have a new database and its call Mango Languages. Now I know Cairn offers Greek, Hebrew and Spanish (only one of which you can speak), but if you want to learn a new language, are interested in a language, or simply want to brush up on a language, Mango is the place to go.

Mango offers French, Hawaiian, Arabic, Yiddish, Pirate (yes pirate is what you think it is), Tagalog, Icelandic, and even sign language. Altogether they offer 72 different languages that you can choose from (including English as a foreign language courses). Having explored the site myself, it is very user friendly and easy to use, it also incorporates all of your senses (minus taste and smell), so it makes learning that much easier! By all means, go check it out you won’t regret it!

That is what humanity has been so obsessed with for all of time. Whether it was oral tradition passed down generation to generation or some of the first ones written down like Gilgamesh, humanity has been so fascinated by stories. Think about even the boring epics you have to read in class, when you hear the condensed version suddenly a whole world in brought to life and it’s suddenly interesting. Even now one of the biggest industries in the world, Hollywood, does nothing but tell a tale that sucks us in and has us talking for weeks. Think about most of your conversations with friends, what are they? Often times we are telling each other stories about our experiences or even the experiences of others.

Tolkien picked up on this in his book the Twin Towers: “Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We’re in one, of course, but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards.” Stories stick in our heads. I think this is why Jesus told stories. When we think about the words of Jesus it is so easy to bring back the prodigal son or the story of the seeds that grew and the ones that did not. Even the Bible as a whole tells us a story. When we share the gospel in essence what we are doing is telling people the greatest story ever. It’s amazing. The library is full of great biographies of people’s life stories. The amazing things they have done. Or even fiction novels that are some of the greatest stories ever written. So I challenge you, find a story. Write one, read one, or maybe for the first time discover your own. If Lit and Arts has taught me anything it’s long after we are gone the stories will live on.

Students constantly come to the library looking for sources for assignments or just to investigate in topics of interest to them. One of the Masland Library’s databases, LexisNexis offers insight to “hot topics” in the world today. Specifically, the database has published numerous articles on the Zika Virus, a disease hitting headlines daily here in the US and throughout the world.

The virus starts from an insect bite and causes fever, rashes, and joint pain, yet what may even be worse than these bad sensations are the effects it has on newborns when the virus is spread from mothers to fetuses. Babies infected with the virus are being born with microcephaly, a defect in which the baby’s head is abnormally small and effects the brain.

Students should take advantage of sources such as LexisNexis because they inform us of issues happening all around the world today. If it wasn’t for articles I found I wouldn’t know about this dangerous issue going on throughout various nations. These resources provide us with information about politics, weather, health, and so much more. Once you know about all that’s going on it’ll make you want to do something about it, even if it’s something as simple as raising awareness through sharing the information with people you know. Don’t waste time being uniformed, get into the world and experience what’s really going on in it.

Other databases with news:

ABI Inform, Chronicle of Higher Education, New York Times, and Newspaper Source

Well friends, you have a great resource at your fingertips. Unfortunately there are those who have no desire to use it or have no idea how to use it. Your Cairn University Library has the ability to increase the value of your education, to which you give so much of your time, effort, energy, and money. I am saddened to meet people on campus who have never checked out a book, spent any amount of time studying in the library, or even have no idea that the school gives you free prints to use in the library printers. I have met graduating seniors who have never even set foot in the library. This scares me. So, in light of this catastrophe, I am making a “did you know” list for our beloved “bibliotheque . ”

1. Your prints.

Oh yes, Cairn student, you are given free prints to use during the semester. This seems
obvious, but there are some people out there that have no clue. So maybe you knew you had
prints, but maybe you didn’t know the copier upstairs is the only place you can print with color?

Sure maybe you knew that too, but I’ll bet you didn’t know that you can print your paper and
have the PRINTER STAPLE YOUR WORK FOR YOU. Yes. With a simple click of a button on
the print menu, the Multifunction printers (MFP) (aka the big copiers downstairs and upstairs)will staple things for you right in the machine. Easypeasy.

2. There are records, and a record player.

This is for all you hipsters out there. Let’s say you were down at Sunday Breakfast or some
other local thrift store and you saw a killer vinyl for just a couple bucks. You have a phonograph at home, but home is oh so far away. Problem solved!

3. During finals week, there is free coffee.

That’s right. Your heard me. Free coffee. ‘Nuff said.

4. Rare book archives.

This one is actually pretty cool, and it’s what I do every day, so ask about it! We have a large
collection of rare books, some even dating back to 1700. Let’s say you’re working on a project and trying to come up with a unique angle to impress your prof. You can find sources from the 1800’s and see what the theologians of that time thought and compare it to what you’re learning in your classes today. The possibilities are endless. These sources must stay in the library, but you can come during office hours (84:30) and get special permission from a full time librarian to use a certain book. You can find titles by searching on the website just like any other book.

5. There are study rooms.

If you have a group project, or maybe need to find an even quieter place than the library, these rooms are spacious and allow you to spread your homework out in a private space.

6. Free books and book sale.

I meet lots of people who don’t know that the library has a book sale. If you go through the
lobby, down the stairs, and to the right, there’s a table with some hidden treasures at great
prices. And there is usually a cart of free books hanging around the front doors of the library for anybody to take advantage of.

7. RESERVE BOOKS

Or maybe your professor didn’t tell you. For a good number of classes here at Cairn, the
professor will put the required textbooks/books on reserve at the library. So instead of spending all those extra bucks, check with the front desk! You can check out reserve books at the front desk and have them for 2 hours. You can simply read, or scan what you need at a copier, send it to yourself, and be ready to go.

8. Movies.

The library also has a collection of movies behind the front desk, and it is a decent selection. Check it out!

9. Online Renewal.

I think this one is most surprising to people. You can simply go to “your account” on the library home page, and renew any books you have, unless you’ve renewed too many times. Just a heads up…

10. Databases.

The library has amazing collection of eBooks, as well as DATABASES. These resources are an incredible asset to writing any paper ever. There is an extensive list that allows you to choose a database that specifically fits the subject of your paper, and then you can do a detailed search. The best part is that these resources are accessible from anywhere. So check them out.

Footnote: Ask your librarians anything. If you have any questions, we love to help if we can, and find out if we don’t know. We also like it when people acknowledge our existence and talk to us,even if it’s a smile. So embrace your library. Learn the ways of the books.

Caitlin Williams

PS: The library has social media. Look them up. Trust me. There are gift card giveaways,
events, competitions with lucrative rewards… Do it.

ï There are DVDs you can check out. That’s right; the Masland Library has a collection of DVDs that you can check out as a student. Here are just some of the movies that are available: Gone With the Wind, Planet of the Apes, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hobbit, Downtown Abbey, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Star Wars (episodes 4, 5, 6), and Shakespearean plays. So, if you want a movie night with some friends, but you’re in need of a good movie, come over to the library and we’ll help you out.

ï There is an ongoing book sale. The book sale is down the steps and to the left on the first level of the library. There are many books as well as some cassettes and VHS tapes. Everything is very well priced and is worth a look.

ï There are free books. FREE?! Yes. FREE! As college students, we love free things; and guess what, you’re in luck. The library has a section of free books between the two entrance/exit doors. If you’re looking for a good read and a book you can keep – for free – check out the free book section during your next trip.

ï There is a color copier/printer. There are large copiers/printers on the first and second (mezzanine level) floors. However, the copier/printer on the first floor only uses black and white ink. If you want to copy or print something in color, make sure you head up to the second floor (mezzanine level) and utilize the large color copier/printer up there. It works in the same way as the way on the floor, so you should be a pro at operating it. However, if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask one of the library workers.

ï There is a juvenile section and a curriculum lab. If you have a love for children’s books or if you’re an education major, this is just for you! These two sections are located on the second floor (mezzanine level) in the back right. Feel free to utilize and enjoy them as much as you desire and relive some of your childhood.

ï There are conference rooms you can utilize. Are you and your friends (or study group) looking for a quiet place to study? If so, come to the front desk and ask to check out a key for one of the three conference rooms. You can check these out in two hour increments any time that the library is open. You can also renew them if you need to, just not overnight.